Adrian Lewis Storms It To Set Up Dramatic Darts Night

Backers of Adrian Lewis were rewarded on Thursday night as “Jackpot” rewound the clock and staged a magnificent performance against Dutch master Raymond van Barneveld, including a perfect nine-dart finish.

Darts Premier League Week 11: who won what

Let’s check out the action and see how our accumulators fared.

Adrian Lewis vs Raymond van Barneveld

Taking the match 7-4, Lewis raced into a 2-0 lead before Barney began his comeback – a comeback that was emphatically ended in the fourth set after the two-time world champion Lewis took out the leg with his nine-darter.

Lewis’s form remained with him, largely unchecked, before he fittingly put the game to bed by landing on the bull.

James Wade vs Phil Taylor

Elsewhere, James Wade came from behind to beat Phil “The Power” Taylor 7-5.

At various points in the match, Wade looked in serious trouble, finding himself down by two sets on separate occasions, but an unanswered run in the last four legs gave Wade the points.

Peter Wright vs Michael van Gerwen

Earlier in the evening, Peter “Snakebite” Wright had to surrender himself to a draw with Michael van Gerwen having led by 5-1.

An unusually flat performance from the world number one saw MVG drop an uncharacteristic double in not only the first first set (allowing Wright to take that) and the following three sets. Wright raced into a 4-0 lead and that shock scoreline obviously sparked MVG into action; the Dutchman, where most would be unable, grabbed himself a share of the spoils.

Dave Chisnall vs Gary Anderson

The night’s opener also played out to a tie, one in which Dave Chisnall fluffed his lines at the last minute despite having the points seemingly in the bag.

With seven attempts to close out the match, “Chizzy” lost the form that had put him in such a good position following a fight back from 5-3 down against the world number two. Gary Anderson was allowed back into a game he looked to have thrown away before hitting a double 10 and claiming the draw.

Gary Anderson vs Peter Wright

The opener seemingly gave Anderson fresh belief as he finished off the night by beating Peter Wright in an all-Scots closer. Anderson, who had saved a point, played Wright, who had blown all but one of his.

Both were clearly feeling the mental impact of their earlier exploits. Anderson, who landed six maximums and averaged 113.44, saw off Snakebite with relative ease  in a 7-2 victory.

Betway Premier League Darts Betting Tips

On Thursday, the players head to at Belfast’s SSE Arena for the twelfth week of Betway’s Premier League. Let’s look at some likely value as Dave Chisnall steps up for a double header, taking on the Stoke pair Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor in bookend matches.

Dave Chisnall vs Adrian Lewis

Just like Chisnall, Lewis has turned his league campaign around and sits sixth in the table, just one point off a playoff place. Amazingly, “Chizzy” can also still make the cut but will need to see off “Jackpot” and “The Power” to do so. He will certainly need to tighten up his double shots, too many of which have been dropped thus far and cost him plenty of momentum along the way.

Momentum, however, should not be a problem for “Jackpot” who has last week’s nine-darter to spur him on. Lewis to win then – and for some side action, this SkyBet treble at a tasty 9/2:

  • Lewis to win the match
  • Lewis to hit the outright highest checkout
  • Lewis to score more 180s than Chisnall

Gary Anderson vs Phil Taylor

Gary Anderson sits third in the table and needs to beat Phil “The Power” Taylor, something he does with increasing regularity these days.

While we would never rule The Power out, Anderson has to be favourite in the night’s second match. The Power is well capable of course; at 2/1, he is a decent shout to break throw first in the match with Bet365.

Peter Wright vs James Wade

Peter Wright and James Wade step up for the next match and while second-place “Snakebite” should claim the points here, his form has dipped alarmingly of late.

True, he nearly scored an incredible whitewash against the world number one last week, but his sloppy double shooting returned at the wrong time to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory. If he can hold his nerve better here, then a Snakebite win looks a sound bet.

Michael van Gerwen vs Raymond van Barneveld

Everything goes Dutch for the night’s fourth match as MVG and RVB meet in what I suspect might just be a draw. Mighty Mike has proven himself to be human in recent months and nobody seems to have the measure of him quite like his fellow countryman, who should be happy enough to share a point this week and stay in the hunt.

Dave Chisnall vs Phil Taylor

“Chizzy” and “The Power” return at the end of night and, as ever, earlier evening exploits will likely impact the final match. If, as predicted, both have dropped points earlier in the night then this might boil down to a test of mentality from which the 16-time world champion will surely emerge on top.

Darts Accumulator Tip

This week’s acca: Lewis, Anderson, Wright, Draw, Taylor; 58.26/1 at Betway.

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Barney Feels The Power: Can Phil Taylor Make The Top Four?

Darts Premier League: Matchday 10 results

Phil Taylor vs Raymond van Barneveld

In a golden oldies’ play-off, Phil Taylor averaged just under 106 against an almost equally impressive Raymond van Barneveld. In the end, Taylor proved too much for Barney this time, running out the 7-3 winner.

Having put in one of his best performances of the season, “The Power” moved (momentarily) into third place. Barney, who threw an average of over 100, saw the end of a run of four straight wins.

Michael van Gerwen vs James Wade

Although he needed to work for it, the world number one beat James Wade in a classic match that went right down to the wire. Wade was unlucky to lose and almost claimed a draw.

Despite Wade averaging over 110, Mighty Mike’s class was available to him when he needed it to be.  In true MVG style, he was able to strike an average of over 113, landing a 138 checkout in the final leg to beat Wade 7-5 and remain the Premier League leader.

Peter Wright vs Dave Chisnall

A game just as thrilling, if not as matched for quality, was the 6-6 draw between Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall. Both averaged over 100 and yet neither really took control of the game in the way they would have hoped to.

For “Snakebite” especially, this will feel liked dropped points. “Chizzy”, who looked a lost player only weeks ago, will rue losing the last three legs of a game he looked set to win.

Raymond van Barneveld vs James Wade

An earlier defeat was quickly rectified by Raymond van Barneveld (who would move back up to third and overtake Taylor) following a second match of the evening in which he destroyed James Wade 7-2.

With RVB again averaging 100, Wade had little in the way of a response and simply couldn’t call on any of his unrewarded, brilliant form from earlier in the evening. He succumbed to a second Dutch defeat.

Adrian Lewis vs Gary Anderson

The biggest surprise of the night was served up when Adrian “Jackpot” Lewis as ran out a comfortable 7-3 winner against Gary Anderson, giving himself a decent – and surprising – shout for a top four finish.

World number two Anderson was in uncharacteristically poor form, missing 18 of his 21 double shots. He now sits level in the table with Lewis, who averaged a respectable 99.76.

Premier League Darts betting tips for Matchday 11

This Thursday the players return for the eleventh matchday of the League, this time with Liverpool playing host at the Echo Arena.

Gary Anderson vs Dave Chisnall

The first game of the night belongs to Gary Anderson and Dave Chisnall, with Anderson’s form and top four finish now under threat. Bet365 rate both players as 5/6 to be the first player in the match to break throw.

A rejuvenated “Chizzy” could throw a spanner in the works here, but if Anderson digs deep then the
“Flying Scotsman” should see the match out and claim all three points – vital given his all-star, all-Scots closer against Peter “Snakebite” Wright.

Peter Wright vs Michael van Gerwen/Gary Anderson

Wright himself faces a tough night playing the world number one Michael van Gerwen in his opener and number two Gary Anderson in his closer. I am expecting Snakebite to end the night pointless.

His form has dipped over the recent weeks, hitting high but missing the doubles, and it’s costing him dear. He can ill afford another winless night here, but I think Anderson (with points on the line) will be dangerous and we can’t expect Wright to best MVG.

Adrian Lewis vs Raymond van Barneveld

Adrian Lewis and Barney will also be meeting this week, with both enjoying wins last time out. It would be an upset, but I’m going for Lewis here.

Form has, for the most part, sided with the Dutchman in recent months but “Jackpot” has thrown his way back into contention, especially in light of his destruction of Gary Anderson a week ago.

Phil Taylor vs James Wade

Finally, Phil “The Power” Taylor and James “The Machine” Wade meet again following their draw in the earlier rounds – a result likely to repeat itself.

This match is also the provider of SkyBets Treble of the Day: Taylor to win the match, hit the outright highest checkout and score more 180s than Wade. That is worth 3/1, or (for the bravest amongst you), 14/1 in reverse.

Darts accumulator tip

This week’s recommended accumulator is: Anderson, MVG, Lewis, Draw, Anderson which awards 56.92 to the pound at tournament sponsors Betway.

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All The Favourites Win In Darts Premier League

Following the withdrawal of an already-eliminated Kim Huybrechts, who had suffered a personal bereavement, a reduced card took place last Thursday in Cardiff and offered little in the way of surprises.

Favourites Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld all won their respective games and, to complete the set, Peter Wright was awarded the points for the forfeited Huybrechts match.

The week that was in the Darts Premier League

Phil Taylor vs Jelle Klaasen

Snakebite was awarded a default 7-0 win for what would have been the opening match against Huybrechts, which meant that the first dart of the night was thrown by Phil “The Power” Taylor against the also already-eliminated Jelle Klaasen.

Klaasen found himself with a 4-1 lead but Taylor proved class is permanent as he fought back with an unanswered run of four straight legs followed by a 180 in the final leg to take the match 7-5 and keep himself in with a chance of a top four finish.

Gary Anderson vs Adrian Lewis

The world number two was the next out at the Motorpoint Arena where he produced arguably the night’s most impressive performance, posting an average of 107.13 as he dismissed Adrian Lewis.

Anderson was in top form throughout; “Jackpot” had no chance as Anderson hit five 180s and a 170 checkout in his 7-3 rout.

Raymond van Barneveld vs James Wade

Making light of his own admission that at his age he is unable to string a run of results together, Raymond van Barneveld recorded his fourth successive Premier League victory with a never-in-doubt win over James Wade.

Having beaten MVG last week and Gary Anderson the week previous, Barney almost recorded a whitewash against a poor and fading James Wade, who took until the fourth leg before landing a double. However, a Wade comeback was nipped firmly in the bud by the Dutchman, who ran out the 7-2 winner.

Dave Chisnall vs Michael van Gerwen

Another Dutch winner closed the night in emphatic style as Dave “Chizzy” Chisnall was made to feel the full wrath of a wounded Michael van Gerwen, who had lost for the first time in 45 televised matches a week previous.

Unsurprisingly topping the table, Mighty Mike crushed Chizzy 7-1, helped by an average of 104.25, although the St Helens man did hit five 180s and averaged over 100 himself. However, “Chizzy” was let down by his inability to land the doubles.

Darts betting tips: Betway Darts Premier League

From here on out, the remaining eight players will all meet again before a top four is determined. This quartet will progress to Final’s Night at the O2 Arena in London on May 18.

Let’s take a look at this week’s matches and see if we can find some value.

James Wade vs Michael van Gerwen

As Wade’s challenge begins to fade, “The Machine” will need a result here in the night’s opener in order to stay in contention. Unfortunately for James, he meets world number one Michael van Gerwen, fresh from an almost-unanswered victory over Dave Chisnall in last week’s closer.

Wade himself fared little better than Chizzy last week, going down 7-2 to an imperious Barney. Like most darts fans, I wouldn’t bet against MVG making it a double Dutch horror show for Wade this week.

Raymond van Barneveld vs Phil Taylor

Our second Dutchman is up next in what could be a momentous night for darts. This, potentially, could be the last-ever match between darting giants Barney and “The Power”. Obviously, given the quality of these two players and their tendency to win tournament matches, that scenario is unlikely – but the threat remains all the same.

For a whole slew of reasons, this is as tough to call as they come. I’ll leave it up to form and back RVB – although history tells us to never bet against Phil Taylor, especially given Barney’s concession that he cannot play at his top level in back-to-back matches. With a second match later in the evening, the Dutchman may have eyes on an easier tie with James Wade.

Dave Chisnall vs Peter Wright

Far easier to call (or at least, it should be) is the third match of the evening which pairs the faltering Dave Chisnall with Peter Wright, who was given a bye last week due to Huybrechts’ withdrawal.

Wright has been in decent form over the last month or so and so should emerge victorious here. One 7/2 bet worth taking is this beauty from SkyBet under the match trebles tab:

  • Wright to win the match
  • Wright to hit the outright highest checkout
  • Wright to score more 180s than Chisnall

Gary Anderson vs Adrian Lewis

Much the same will be expected of compatriot Gary Anderson in the following match, where he faces two-time world champion Adrian Lewis.

“Jackpot” unquestionably has the ability to hurt Anderson, but now that we have reached the business end of the tournament, we should expect Anderson to go up a level performance-wise. If he does, there should only be one outcome in this tie.

James Wade vs Raymond van Barneveld

The evening’s last match will see James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld step out for the second of their double headers in order to satisfy the card following the departures of Kim Huybrechts and Jelle Klaasen.

On the face of it, Barney’s brilliant form of late would, should and does make him our favourite – and yet, given he will have already stepped up to the oche earlier in the evening (and has complained about playing once weekly already), will a second match in as many hours be asking too much? It’s a tricky one but he would be a popular addition to the final four so we’ll stick with Barney.

Darts Premier League accumulator

So then, this week’s accumulator will be MVG, draw, Wright, Anderson and Barney which pays out 22.46 to the pound at Betway.

Barney, by the way, is 14/1 with Bet365 for an outright tournament win. Given his form, an each-way bet which pays a quarter of the odds for a runner-up finish looks very tasty.

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